teaching souls through the written word

Guilty as charged?

What would you think of someone who was a subject of persistent rumor? How would you feel if you heard that this person ate and drank to excess? And that he was demon-possessed and in league with Satan? And that he was guilty of deception?

What if you heard that he was a law-breaker? And that he advocated not paying taxes?

Who was this person? Jesus!

By reading the accounts of His life as recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we keep running into accusations leveled against Him. John especially emphasizes the undercurrent of controversy swirling around this carpenter/teacher/healer from Nazareth (John 7-10).

Slander without substance

But would the charges stick? Once Jesus challenged His critics, “Which one of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46). They could accuse Him all day long, but where was the evidence?

They absolutely hated Him! Highly motivated to find fault where there was none, they tried to turn as many against Him as they possibly could.

The rumors flew but never hit the mark. Jesus was innocent. Unlike His accusers, He had never sinned—not even once (Hebrews 4:15).

True, His opponents did succeed in having Him executed. But did they have the last word?

Jesus was able to use the cross as the altar for sacrificing Himself for the sins of the world.

And then God raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the place of supreme authority and glory He now occupies—as King of kings and Lord of lords.

Even to this day

But the story doesn’t end there. Those who follow Christ today may also be faced with unfair accusations. As He said to His apostles, “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you . . .” (John 15:20). A certain degree of opposition from the world is to be expected (2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 2:12; 3:16; 4:3-5).